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According to Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, “Our Holy Mother the Church approved during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XV the proper Mass and Office of Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces.” The Saint Andrew’s Daily Missal (1945) lists it as May 31. The Angelus Press missal says, “May 31 was the usual date for this Mass until the institution of the Feast of Our Lady Queen; since 1956 the day will probably vary with the Diocese.”

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us! Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for us! True Mother of the living, pray for us! Mother regenerating men in Christ unto God, pray for us! Mother of piety and of grace, pray for us! Mother of pardon and remission, pray for us! Partner in human redemption, pray for us! Recoverer of a lost world, pray for us! Recoverer of the ages, pray for us! Petitioner of all graces, pray for us! Suppliant all-powerful, pray for us! Advocate with thy Son for thy sons, pray for us! Obtainer of the divine mercy, pray for us! Dispenser of heavenly treasures, pray for us! Handmaid of divine blessings, pray for us! Fullness of grace to overflow upon all, pray for us! Succor of the Church Militant, pray for us! Ready helper of those in peril, pray for us! Devoted consoler of the sorrowful, pray for us! Conqueress of all error, pray for us! Protectress of the world, pray for us! Impregnable protection, pray for us! Propitiation of the divine wrath, pray for us! Refuge of all the unhappy, pray for us! Shelter of orphans, pray for us! Assured safety of the faithful, pray for us! Hope of all who despair, pray for us! Stay of the falling, pray for us! Uplifter of the fallen, pray for us! Cheer and comfort of the dying, pray for us! Peace and joy of mankind, pray for us! Our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray for us! Gate of Paradise, pray for us! Mystical stair of Jacob, pray for us! Key of the heavenly kingdom, pray for us! Channel of divine graces, pray for us! Throne of divine clemency, pray for us! Fountain of living waters, pray for us! Fountain sealed by the Holy Spirit, pray for us! Unfailing stream of mercy, pray for us! Asylum of the erring, pray for us! Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us! Shining star of the sea, pray for us! Light of those who sit in darkness, pray for us! Chamber of spiritual nuptials, pray for us! Mediatrix of men with God, pray for us! Mediatrix after the Mediator, pray for us! Mediatrix reconciling us to the Son, pray for us! Mediatrix of sinners, staunch and true, pray for us! Mediatrix of all beneath the sky, pray for us! Mediatrix ever pleading for us, pray for us! Mediatrix set between Christ and His Church, pray for us! Mediatrix who hast found favor with God, pray for us! Mediatrix to win salvation for the world, pray for us! Mediatrix of the mysteries of God, pray for us! Mediatrix of all graces, pray for us!

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, our powerful Mediatrix, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!

Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator with the Father, Who hast deigned to
appoint the Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother, to be our Mother also and our
Mediatrix with Thee, graciously grant that whosoever goes to Thee in
quest of blessings may be gladdened by obtaining them all through her,
Thou Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever
one God, world without end. R. Amen.

Prayer of Petition
O
Ever-Virgin Mother of God and Mediatrix of Grace who art the House of
Gold within which dwells thy Son, our Mediator, Jesus Christ, we humbly
beseech thee to grant our requests for our salvation and the salvation
of the entire world. (Here pause and make your requests) Keep us close
to the Vicar of thy Son in the unity of the One, Holy, Catholic,
Apostolic and Roman Church. Hear our prayer and grant the requests we
make to thee.

St. Joseph, Intercede for us. St. Jude Thaddeus, Pray for us. St. Mary of Cleophas, Pray for us. St. Philip Neri, Pray for us. St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, Pray for us. St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pray for us.

It has been almost six years since Pope Benedict XVI issued the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.
Despite deficiencies in the text (two forms of one rite, for example),
the point of this motu proprio – that the Traditional Latin Mass had
never been abrogated – sent shockwaves through the entire Catholic
world.

Traditional Catholics had argued for decades that the traditional
Mass had never been abrogated; in return they were met with scorn,
ridicule, and accusations of disobedience from the corners of the
“conservative” Catholic world, ever eager to be in the right. Thus,
despite the noted deficiencies in the text, Summorum Pontificum
was, and remains to this day, an incredibly controversial text. This is
not because of the juridical questions directly, but because of the
clear statement that the ancient liturgical rite of Rome, which had
formed countless saints, and which the reformers sought to kill, had
never been abrogated.

Fast forward over five years to March 13, 2013. Benedict XVI, having
announced his abdication in early February, had renounced the burden of
that office, leading to the election of Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio,
who would take the name Francis. In the uncertainty that followed, the
question of the liturgy returned increasingly to the fore of Catholic
discourse.

Today, May 30th, the Feast of St. Joan of Arc is celebrated in certain parts of the world. Recall that today is the Feast of St. Felix I on the Universal Calendar (unless Corpus Christi falls on this day as it does in 2013). The Catholic Encyclopedia summarizes the history of this feast:

At last the cause of her beatification was introduced upon occasion of an appeal addressed to the Holy See, in 1869, by Mgr Dupanloup, Bishop of Orléans, and, after passing through all its stages and being duly confirmed by the necessary miracles, the process ended in the decree being published by Pius X on 11 April, 1909. A Mass and Office of St. Joan, taken from the "Commune Virginum," with "proper" prayers, have been approved by the Holy See for use in the Diocese of Orléans. St. Joan was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.

Collect:

O God, you have chosen Saint Joan of Arc to defend her country against the invading enemy. Through her intercession, grant that we may work for justice and live in peace. We pray through Jesus Christ, your son, living and reigning with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Secret:

O Lord, on this feast of Saint Joan of Arc, accept this pure offering of the victim who is our salvation. Grant that we may love you in all things and more than all things so that we may live for the praise of your glory. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion:

You have strengthened us, O Lord, with bread from heaven from which Saint Joan of Arc so frequently found light and comfort. May this heavenly nourishment sustain us in the service of our brothers and sisters. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is an exclusive interview with His Excellency Bishop Bernard
Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, about the New
Seminary Project. The New Seminary Project is an effort to build a new
and larger St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in picturesque Virginia to house
the many young men who are following God's call to the priesthood.

Born with the name of Catherine in 1566, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi received a religious upbringing. She was initially sent to the Monastery of St. John as a boarder at age 14, but was taken back home by her family who opposed her religious vocation and wanted her to marry well. They eventually gave in, and Catherine became a Carmelite of the Ancient Observance at 16, taking the name Sister Mary Magdalen.

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi was endowned with the gift of prophesy and lived as a mystic. In 1598 she became mistress of novices and she was chosen as subprioress in 1604. She would hold this position until her death of natural causes on May 25, 1607. The final three years of her life were filled with intense bodily and mental sufferings but the saint prayed to suffer more. She led a hidden life of prayer and self-denial, praying particularly for the renewal of the Church and encouraging the sisters in holiness.

She foretold the elevation of Pope Leo XI in a prophesy shortly before her death.

Collect:

O God, lover of chastity, who didst inflame the blessed Virgin, Mary Magdalen, with love for Thee and didst adorn her with heavenly gifts, grant that as we honor her on this festal day, so may we follow her in purity and love. Through our Lord . . .

The series of the mysteries is now complete, and the
movable cycle of the liturgy has come to its close. We first passed, during
Advent, the four weeks, which represented the four thousand years spent by
mankind in entreating the eternal Father to send His Son. Our Emmanuel at
length came down; we shared in the joys of His Birth, in the dolours of His
Passion, in the glory of His Resurrection, in the triumph of His Ascension.
Lastly, we have witnessed the descent of the Holy Ghost upon us, and we know
that He is to abide with us to the last. Holy Church has assisted us throughout
the whole of this sublime drama, which contains the work of our salvation. Her
heavenly canticles, her magnificent ceremonies, have instructed us day by day,
enabling us to follow and understand each feast and season. Blessed by this
mother for the care wherewith she has placed all these great mysteries before
us, thus giving us light and love! Blessed by the sacred liturgy, which has
brought us so much consolation and encouragement! We have now to pass through
the immovable portion of the cycle: we shall find sublime spiritual episodes,
worthy of all our attention. Let us, then, prepare to resume our journey: let
us take fresh courage in the thought that the Holy Ghost will direct our steps,
and, by the sacred liturgy, of which He is the inspirer, will continue to throw
open to us treasures of precept and example.

Please join me in continuing to follow the Traditional Feast Days of the pre-1955 calendar through my continuously updated post on Catholic Feast Days.

Born in the year 672 AD in England, St. Bede was born around the time England was completely Christianized. He was raised from age seven in the abbey of Saints Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow, and lived there the rest of his life. Ordained as a Benedictine in 702 by Saint John of Beverley.

St. Bede is truly shows forth the illustrious example of learning. He was far and wide considered the most learned man of his time, having written extensively on history, rhetoric, mathematics, music, astronomy, poetry, grammar, philosophy, hagiography, homiletics, and Bible commentary. His most authoritative and well known work is "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," a complete history of the English Church up until 731. The central theme of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica is of the Church using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism.

The Saint was employed in translating the Gospel of St. John from the Greek up to the hour of his death, which took place on Ascension Day, 735. He was declared a Doctor of the Church on November 13, 1899, by Pope Leo XIII.

Collect:

O God, who dost enlighten Thy Church by the learning of blessed Bede, Thy Confessor and Doctor: mercifully grant to Thy servants ever to be enlightened by his wisdom and helped by his merits. Through…

On Memorial Day (USA), let us remember to pray not only for the safety of those serving our country but also for their salvation. May holy, traditional priests be sent out to give them the Sacraments of Salvation.

In World War II, there were 3,220 priests ministering to our troops overseas. In today’s Global War against terrorism, there are less than 325 priests. That is 100 less priests than just two years ago. We desperately need vocations to the military to serve as priests. Pray for traditional vocations to the priesthood.

So, please take a brief moment of silence to remember all that gave their lives for our freedom, and please pray for vocations for priests in the military.

I recently received a copy of A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father by Mark Shriver. For those unfamiliar, Mark's father, Sargent Shriver, was the founder of the Peace Corp under President Kennedy. The story Mark sets forth though is not a politically charged one but one that shows the wholeness of an authentic, faith-centered family life.

As Mark writes, "Dad was a radical, a hell-raiser who based his revolutionary public
service on very orthodox instruction manuals: the Scriptures, his
faith's creeds and prayers, and the life of Jesus Christ. . . . Dad
lived out applied religion. He applied his faith's ethics every day to
everything he did. His paradox--his radical orthodoxy--allowed him to
conform to the requirements of a life in public service." His father attended Mass everyday, even while overseas in the midst of conflict.

Mark illustrates for us how he found his father again and rediscovered him. This eulogy is particularly poignant at times and is something many of us can relate to when we have ill parents or grandparents. I applaud Mark for his work in this book and recommend it.

For Catholics who are convinced that government must foster the common good and should be socially and fiscally responsible, this book is for you. For Catholics who erroneously believe the Faith isn't timeless and has no place in government, this book is also for you - to help you see the contrary.

'To abstain from sinful actions is not sufficient for the fulfillment of
God's law. The very desire of what is forbidden is evil." - St. John Baptist de la Salle

As we are aware, one of the key requirements to receiving a plenary indulgence is being "free from all attachment to sin." What exactly does this mean? How can we be free from all attachment to sin? A question has arisen from a reader of this blog that deserves an explanation:

One of the requirements for a plenary indulgence is "free from all
attachment to sin." What do you think is meant by this? What if a person
considers a certain sin to be appealing, or is easily tempted by it?
Would this be an attachment to sin? What if a person has not adequately
atoned for his sins? Would this be an attachment to sin?

I wish to direct you to the following words taken directly from Enchiridion of Indulgences -- Norms and Grants, authorized English Edition, translated by Fr. William T. Barry, C.SS.R., Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, New York, from the Second Revised Edition of the Enchiridion of Indulgences issued by the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, 1968 and originally published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City, 1968.

The author uses the plenary indulgence associated with the Way of the Cross as an example:

To gain a plenary indulgence, however, several additional factors must also be
present.
All together, they are the following:

The person must be a Catholic, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace, that is, free from mortal sin that has not been confessed and forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance.

The recipient must go to Confession, receive Holy
Communion, and say at least one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the
intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff. These can all be done several
days before or after performing the prescribed "work," in this case,
making the Way of the Cross.
But it is more fitting that the Communion and the prayers for the
Pope's intentions be on the same day that the "work" is performed.
A single Confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences,
but sacramental Communion must be received and prayer for the intention
of the Sovereign Pontiff must be recited for the gaining of each plenary
indulgence.

The recipient must be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.
Although a person might still sin, as we all do, or even be inclined to
an habitual sin, such as using God's name in vain, yet so long as the attachment to the sin or the desire to commit it is absent
from the person's soul, he or she would be considered "free from
attachment to sin." (If this disposition is in any way less than
perfect or if any of the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled,
the indulgence will be only partial.)

Only one plenary indulgence may be gained per day.
But one can obtain the plenary indulgence "for the moment of death;"
even if another plenary indulgence had been acquired on the same day.

The person must perform the prescribed work, in this case, make the Way of the
Cross -- with at least the general intention of gaining indulgences. In making the Way of the Cross, the following norms apply:

The pious exercise must be made before stations of the Way of the Cross legitimately erected.

For the erection of the Way of the Cross, fourteen crosses are
required, to which it is customary to add fourteen pictures or images,
which represent the stations of Jerusalem.

Although according to the more common practice the pious exercise
consists of fourteen pious readings to which some vocal prayers are
added, yet nothing more is required than a pious meditation on the
Passion and Death of the Lord, which need not be a particular
consideration of the individual mysteries of the stations.

A movement from one station to the next is required, but if the
pious exercise is made publicly and if it is not possible for all taking
part to go in an orderly way from station to station, it suffices if at
least the one conducting the exercise goes from station to station, the
others remaining in their places.

Those who are "impeded" can gain the same indulgence if they spend
at least a half hour in pious reading and meditation on the Passion and
Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being free from mortal sin is not only a requirement for gaining a
plenary indulgence, but also a requirement for gaining a partial
indulgence, and a prerequisite to receiving the Eucharist. To free one's
self from a state of mortal sin, one must celebrate the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. If one commits mortal sin regularly, it is likely that
he is attached to this sin, so even after celebrating the Sacrament of
Reconciliation and receiving the Eucharist, he can only gain a partial
indulgence.

Remaining free from mortal sin is a normal state for a Christian. The
more mature Christian can also achieve the higher state of being free
from all attachment to sin. This is usually the deciding factor as to
whether an indulgence is plenary or partial. The individual may have the
intent of gaining a plenary indulgence, but any attachment to sin will
cause the indulgence to be only partial. This should not deter one from
seeking a plenary indulgence and a state of being free from all
attachment to sin. Once one is truly free from all attachment to sin, it
become easier to remain so.

Being free from all attachment to sin is not only a requirement for
gaining a plenary indulgence, it should be a goal of every Christian.
Consciously renouncing all attachment to sin is required to make a good
Confession. It is also required in preparing one's self to receive the
Eucharist. After receiving the Eucharist or Absolution, one may fall
back into attachment to sin, sometimes almost immediately, but that
should not discourage one's efforts. Frequent Communion and Confession
are the two most effective aids in becoming free from all attachment to
sin.

The ultimate goal of a Christian is to not only be free from all
attachment to sin, but to be free of all sin. This is an impossible goal
to achieve on Earth, but nonetheless, it is the goal. The goal of
achieving freedom from all attachment to sin is achievable on Earth,
although it required a great deal of effort. It should be noted that
being free from all sin and being free from all attachment to sin are
two very different things. One can sin without being attached to that
sin.

To be attached to a sin is to be comfortable in that sin; to return to
it again and again without much resistance to the temptation to commit
it. It is an addiction, where the desire to commit the sin is stronger
than the desire to serve God. In essences, it is serving God with
reservation and not with total abandonment.

Attachment to sin can be an obvious addiction, such as to alcohol, or to pornography,
but it can also be subtle, such as being pridefully pious, saying
prayers instead of praying them, or ignoring the promptings of the Holy
Spirit. One must be careful though not to fall into scrupulosity, which
itself is a sin that one can become attached to.

One can be attached to sin without being conscious of it, making it
even harder gain a plenary indulgence. One must delve deep down into his
soul and honestly evaluate his sinful nature to discover in what way he
habitually resists the will of God.

Ridding yourself from all attachment to sin is necessary in gaining a
plenary indulgence, but it is also the only way to grow in your
Christian faith. Regularly gaining an indulgence is admirable, but what
is more important is to grow in faith, which is a side effect of
regularly gaining an indulgence.

And thus we see attachment to sin is likely quite common in our society. But as affirmed above, we should trust in God and seek out indulgences regardless. At the least, our indulgence will be partial and for someone attached to sin, partial indulgences will help them atone for sin and increase in virtue. On a similar note, please see The Hermeneutic of Continuity's post on Plenary Indulgences: Not Impossible.

Today the Holy Church remembers the life of St. Gregory VII (1020 - 1085). Born in Tuscany, Italy, Hildebrand became a Benedictine monk in the famous monastery of Cluny in France. At the death of Alexander II, Hildebrand was elected pope and took the name of Gregory VII.

In the eleventh century the bishops were virtually the dependents of secular princes. Gregory, therefore, fought with constancy and courage for the independence of the Church. His fearlessness stands out strikingly in his conflict with Henry IV, Emperor of Germany.

At the time of his ascension, simony and a corrupt clergy threatened to destroy faith in the Church. Gregory took the throne as a reformer, and Emperor Henry IV promised to support him. Gregory suspended all clerics who had purchased their position, and ordered the return of all purchased church property. The corrupt clergy rebelled; Henry IV broke his promise, and promoted the rebels. Gregory responded by excommunicating anyone involved in lay investiture. He summoned Henry to Rome, but the emperor’s supporters drove Gregory into exile. Henry installed the anti-pope Guibert of Ravenna, who was driven from Rome by Normans who supported Gregory; the Normans were, themselves, so out of control that the people of Rome drove out them and Gegory. The Pope then retreated to Salerno, Italy where he spent the remainder of his papacy.

As Gregory was dying in 1085, he said, "I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile."

O God, the strength of all who trust in You, it was from You that blessed confessor bishop Gregory drew courage and perseverance in defending the freedom of Your Church. May his example and intercession help us to face all adversity bravely.

"O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! Glorious Queen of heaven and earth! Powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! Look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy devoted child; accept the solemn offering I present thee of this month, specially dedicated to thee, and receive my ardent, humble desire, that by my love and fervor I could worthily honor thee, who, next to God, art deserving of all honor. Receive me, O Mother of Mercy, among thy best beloved children; extend to me thy maternal tenderness and solicitude; obtain for me a place in the Heart of Jesus, and a special share in the gifts of His grace. O deign, I beseech thee, to recognize my claims on thy protection, to watch over my spiritual and temporal interests, as well as those of all who are dear to me; to infuse into my soul the spirit of Christ, and to teach me thyself to become meek, humble, charitable, patient, and submissive to the will of God.

May my heart burn with the love of thy Divine Son, and of thee, His blessed Mother, not for a month alone, but for time and eternity; may I thirst for the promotion of His honor and thine, and contribute, as far as I can, to its extension. Receive me, O Mary, the refuge of sinners! Grant me a Mother's blessing and a Mother's care, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen."

On Sunday, May 5th of this year in Eddystone, PA, the SSPX Chapel of St. Jude gave the Most Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion to four children for the first time. This chapel is led by the pastor Fr. Jordan Fahnestock. This particular Sunday was also the May Crowning for the Chapel.

During the Octave of Pentecost the Church celebrates more especially the glories of the grace of the Holy Ghost and His secret work of sanctification in the Mystical Body of Christ.

Originally the feast of Pentecost brought to an end in Rome the fifty days of the Easter celebrations and introduced the fast of the Ember Days of the summer quarter. Afterwards it became customary to continue the festivity for two more days, the Monday and the Tuesday, and, finally, after the time of Pope St. Leo the Great it was extended like the Octave of Easter through the entire week.

As Fish Eaters relates, "In medieval times, families in many parts of Europe would suspend a carved and painted wooden dove over their dining table. Such a custom could be easily revived for the throughout the Octave of the Pentecost -- and imagine that dining room table covered with a white tablecloth, sprinkled with red rose petals, and with a vase of columbine at its center."

The Christian Pentecost, prefigured by the ancient one of the Jews, is of the number of the feasts that were instituted by the apostles. As we have already remarked, it formerly shared with Easter the honour of the solemn administration of Baptism. Its octave, like that of Easter, and for the same reason, ended with the Saturday following the feast. The catechumens received Baptism on the night between Saturday and Sunday. So that the Pentecost solemnity began on the vigil, for the neophytes at once put on their white garments: on the eighth day, the Saturday, they laid them aside.

Although Ember Days are no longer considered required in mainstream Roman Catholicism following Vatican II, they can - and should - still be observed by the Faithful. In fact, many Traditional priests encourage the Faithful to observe the days. Ember Days are set aside to pray and/or offer thanksgiving for a good harvest and God's blessings. If you are in good health, please at least fast during these three days and pray the additional prayers. Remember the words from the Gospel: "Unless you do penance, you shall likewise perish" (Luke 13:5)

Join the Church during these three days by fasting, abstaining from meat, and praying for vocations.

Ember Days this Pentecost: May 21, 24, and 25.

From New Advent:

Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy. The immediate occasion was the practice of the heathens of Rome. The Romans were originally given to agriculture, and their native gods belonged to the same class.

At the beginning of the time for seeding and harvesting religious ceremonies were performed to implore the help of their deities: in June for a bountiful harvest, in September for a rich vintage, and in December for the seeding; hence their feriae sementivae, feriae messis, and feri vindimiales. The Church, when converting heathen nations, has always tried to sanctify any practices which could be utilized for a good purpose. At first the Church in Rome had fasts in June, September, and December; the exact days were not fixed but were announced by the priests. The "Liber Pontificalis" ascribes to Pope Callistus (217-222) a law ordering: the fast, but probably it is older. Leo the Great (440-461) considers it an Apostolic institution. When the fourth season was added cannot be ascertained, but Gelasius (492-496) speaks of all four. This pope also permitted the conferring of priesthood and deaconship on the Saturdays of ember week--these were formerly given only at Easter.

Before Gelasius the ember days were known only in Rome, but after his time their observance spread. They were brought into England by St. Augustine; into Gaul and Germany by the Carlovingians. Spain adopted them with the Roman Liturgy in the eleventh century. They were introduced by St. Charles Borromeo into Milan. The Eastern Church does not know them. The present Roman Missal, in the formulary for the Ember days, retains in part the old practice of lessons from Scripture in addition to the ordinary two: for the Wednesdays three, for the Saturdays six, and seven for the Saturday in December. Some of these lessons contain promises of a bountiful harvest for those that serve God.

From Catholic Culture:

Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, fall and winter). The months of August, September, October and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians we recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the year's harvest.

The September Ember Days were particularly focused on the end of the harvest season and thanksgiving to God for the season. Ember Days were three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set aside by the Church for prayer, fasting and almsgiving at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year. The ember days fell after December 13, the feast of St. Lucy (winter), after the First Sunday of Lent (spring), after Pentecost Sunday (summer), and after September 14 , the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (fall). These weeks are known as the quattor tempora, the "four seasons."

Since the late 5th century, the Ember Days were also the preferred dates for ordination of priests. So during these times the Church had a threefold focus: (1) sanctifying each new season by turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving; (2) giving thanks to God for the various harvests of each season; and (3) praying for the newly ordained and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

One new order worthy of consideration is the Brigittini Servitores Sanctissimi
Salvatoris (Brigittine Servitores of the Most Holy Savior) who are located adjacent to the FSSP parish in Tyler, TX. They have a website here. The group is still very small and new. They describe themselves thusly:

Essentially contemplatives, they engage in an apostolate of assisting
the Holy Father and bishops to implement “Ecclesia Dei Adflicta” and
Summorum Pontificum, while living a life centered on the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass and the full Divine Office in the 1962 Rite (sic: Missal).

They promote the public recitation of the Divine Office by helping
the Catholic faithful to appreciate and to recite it correctly and to
promote its public recitation also promoting Latin literacy through
seminars, formal courses of instruction, and correspondence courses.
They correspond with priests, religious and laity interested in the
traditional Latin liturgy and in the work of the Servitores, also
disseminating information regarding churches, parishes, and religious
orders using the Traditional Latin liturgy and other pertinent
information for the promotion of the same. They also organize days of
recollection and conferences for Catholics interested in the traditional
Latin liturgy.

The Brigittines were once widespread across northern Europe but many of their monasteries were destroyed during the Protestant uprising several hundred years ago. Let us pray for an increase in their numbers.

INTROIT Sap. 1:7
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia! and that which contains all things has knowledge of His voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ps. 67:2. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT - O God, who this day instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that through the same Holy Spirit we may always be truly wise and rejoice in His consolation. Through our Lord . . .

LESSONActs 2:1-11
When the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: "Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

GRADUALPs. 103:30
Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 103:30.
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Alleluia! (Here all kneel.)
V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Unto all your faithful just,
Who in you confide and trust,
Deign the sevenfold gift to send.
Grant us virtue's blest increase,
Grant a death of hope and peace,
Grant the joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPELJohn 14:23-31

At that time, Jesus answered and said to him: "If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father's who sent me. "These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you: 'I go away, and I come unto you.' If you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world: cometh: and in me he hath not any thing. But that the world may know that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandments, so do I. Arise, let us go hence."

OFFERTORYPs. 67:29-30
Make lasting what You have wrought in us, O God; in Your temple in Jerusalem let the kings offer presents to You, alleluia!

COMMUNION
Acts 2:2, 4
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, alleluia! And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began speaking of the wondrous deeds of God, alleluia, alleluia!

POST COMMUNION -May the coming of the Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts, and, as a heavenly dew, water them to bring forth good fruit. Through our Lord . . .

I wish to present some images from the Confirmations and the Pontifical Low Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Kansas City, Missouri, from Saturday, May 11, 2013.
58 confirmands (32 young men and 26 ladies) knelt before Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais to receive the Holy Ghost and become Soldiers of Christ. Please join me in praying for all of them.

Today is the Vigil for Pentecost and tomorrow we will celebrate the Descent of the Holy Spirit and foundation of the Church. Pentecost marks the completion of the work of redemption, the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.

The Mass for Pentecost was formerly celebrated during the night and has
since been anticipated. It seems that the Vigil was modeled on that of
Easter. As on Holy Saturday, a vigil was kept during the night of
Pentecost Sunday to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism. The Feast of
Whitsun - the term Whitsunday is another name for Pentecost alluding to
the white vestments of the neophytes - is as ancient as that of Easter.
The Saturday following the Octave of Pentecost officially begins the
Season After Pentecost.

While the Novus Ordo calendar unfortunately only has 2 octaves,
traditional Catholics will be familiar with the idea of multiple
overlaping Octaves. The practice of celebrating an Octave, while not
only traced to the time spent by the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin
Mary awaiting the Paraclete, also has its origins in the Old Testament
eight-day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:36) and
the Dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:9). Very truly, Christ did
not come to abolish the Old Law but to fulfill it.

By the 8th century, Rome had developed liturgical octaves not only for
Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas, but also for the Epiphany and the
feast of the dedication of a church.

After 1568, when Pope Pius V reduced the number of octaves (since by
then they had grown considerably), the number of Octaves was still
plentiful. Octaves were classified into several types. Easter and
Pentecost had "specially privileged" octaves, during which no other
feast whatsoever could be celebrated. Christmas, Epiphany, and Corpus
Christi had "privileged" octaves, during which certain highly ranked
feasts might be celebrated. The octaves of other feasts allowed even
more feasts to be celebrated.

This is one of the most important celebrations in the Church's liturgical year. I've prepared for this day through the Original Novena. The 1st Class Feast of Pentecost (i.e. WhitSunday) is one of the principal feasts in the life of the Church. After tomorrow's Feast (and the subsequent Octave), we will conclude Pascaltide and begin the Season after Pentecost.

Today's preparation should not be underestimated. Catholics should fast and partially abstain from meat today (as per 1962 rubrics) in order to better conform themselves to celebrate this High Holy Day of Pentecost.

Collect (Vigil of Pentecost 1962 Missal):

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the splendor of Thy brightness may shine forth upon us, and the light of Thy light may, by the illumination of the Holy Ghost, confirm the hearts of those who have been born again by Thy grace. Through our Lord...in the unity of the same Holy Ghost

Born on the Feast of Pentecost in 1540, St. Paschal lived a quiet start to his life, just as our Lord did. His name Paschal refers to "the Pasch (or "Passover") of the Holy Ghost" which is the Spanish term for Pentecost. Until the age of 20, Paschal (1540-92) tended flocks on the hills of Aragon. He would carry a book with him and beg passersby to teach him the
alphabet and to read, and as he toiled in the fields he would read
religious books.

He then became a Franciscan Brother and spent the rest of his years mainly as doorkeeper in various friaries of Spain. St. Paschal chose to work in poverty as he said, "I was born poor and am resolved to die in poverty and penance." All through his life he was animated with a burning love for the Holy Eucharist, a love so intense that it enabled him to speak triumphantly to heretics about the most obscure mysteries of the Faith. He was a mystic and contemplative, and he had frequent ecstatic visions. He would spend the night before the altar in prayer many nights. At the same time, he sought to downplay any glory that might come from this piety.

Pope Leo XIII declared him patron of all Eucharistic confraternities and congresses. Christian art usually depicts him wearing the Franciscan habit and bearing a monstrance, signifying his devotion to the Holy Eucharist. During the Red Terror at the time of the Spanish Civil War his grave was desecrated and his relics burned by anticlerical leftists.

Collect:

O God, who didst adorn blessed Paschal Thy Confessor with a wonderful love for the holy Mysteries of Thy Body and Blood: mercifully grant that we too may be worthy to receive the rich spiritual graces which he received from this divine banquet; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Today the Holy Church celebrates the life of St. Ubadlus, Bishop of Gubio and Confessor. Born to noble parents, St. Ubaldus lived a pious childhood. After his father died while Ubadlus was still quite young, the boy became a canon regular for the local Cathedral.

He felt a vocation to become a monk, and entered to the Monastery of St. Secondo in the same city, where he remained for some years. Recalled by his bishop, he returned to the cathedral monastery, where he was made prior. Having heard that at Vienna Blessed Peter de Honestis some years before had established a very fervent community of canons regular, to whom he had given special statutes which had been approved by Paschal II, Ubald went there, remaining with his brother canons for three months, to learn the details and the practice of their rules, wishing to introduce them among his own canons of Gubbio. (source)

After being consecrated Bishop of Gubio by Pope Honorius II, he returned to his people and became a perfect pattern of all Christian virtues and a
powerful protector in all their spiritual and temporal needs. It is said that St. Ubaldus helped prevent Frederick Barbarossa from sacking Gubio when the bishop went out on the road to plead with Frederick.

He died of natural causes after a long and painful two year illness in 1160.

At the solicitation of Bishop Bentivoglio, Pope Celestine III canonized him in 1192. His power, as we read in the Office for his feast, is chiefly manifested over the evil spirits, and the faithful are instructed to have recourse to him "contra omnes diabolicas nequitias".

The power St. Ubaldus possessed against evil spirits was evident. The
Church moves in a spirit world--good angels are all about, while
constant vigilance is exercised against Satan and his devils. The
liturgy contains a considerable number of exorcisms and adjurations.
Then there are a series of sacramentals directed against the power of
evil spirits; for example, holy water, palms, candles. Hold these
sacramentals in highest esteem. — Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Collect:

Help us, O Lord, and stretch out Your right hand in compassion to save us from the wickedness of the devil, through the intercession of Your blessed confessor bishop Ubaldus. Through Our Lord . .Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Today we celebrate the life of St. John Baptist de la Salle. Born April 30, 1651, St. John would live until Good Friday, April 7, 1719. He would be remembered especially as the founder of the Brothers of Christian Charity. This order, despite its former greatness, has fallen considerably since Vatican II.

La Salle received the tonsure at the young age of eleven and was named canon of Rheims Cathedral when he was fifteen. He was sent to the College des Bons Enfants, where he pursued higher studies and, on July 10, 1669, he took the degree of Master of Arts. When De La Salle had completed his classical, literary, and philosophical courses, he was sent to Paris to enter the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice on October 18, 1670. His mother died on July 19, 1671, and on April 9, 1672, his father died. This circumstance obliged him to leave Saint-Sulpice on April 19, 1672. He was now twenty-one, the head of the family, and as such had the responsibility of educating his four brothers and two sisters. He completed his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 26 on April 9, 1678. Two years later he received a Doctorate in Theology.

De La Salle became involved in education little by little, without ever
consciously setting out to do so. He lived in a time when society was
characterized by great disparity between the rich and the poor. Jean
Baptiste de la Salle believed that education gave hope and opportunity
for people to lead better lives of dignity and freedom.

In 1685, he founded what is generally considered the first normal school — that is, a school whose purpose is to train teachers — in Rheims, France.

Although good teaching was important to John Baptist, spiritual formation was more so; and, in the face of a rampant Jansenism, he was advocating frequent and even daily Communion. When his foundation was firmly rooted and oriented, he resigned as superior, living thereafter as the humblest of his subjects. He died two years later, on Good Friday.

He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900, and was inserted in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints in 1904. Because of his life and inspirational writings, he was proclaimed as the Patron Saint of Teachers on May 15, 1950, by Pope Pius XII

Collect:

O God, You inspired the holy confessor John Baptist to teach the poor and to lead the young in the path of truth, and then founded a new congregation in Your Church through him. May his intercession and example fill us with zeal to glorify You by the saving of souls, so that we may also share his reward in Heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

The theme of this month's Holy Cross Seminary Newsletter resolves on prayer and the necessity to place prayer first in our lives - even before our apostolic works. The full newsletter is below but I quote from it now to highlight some noteworthy sections:

Prayer is work and it is the work of God. Man was.
created in order to share in the divine occupation of.
glorifying God in his life on earth and in heaven.
Nonetheless, man may, and must, apply himself to the.
vicissitudes of life in a prayerful manner, as is befitting.
the talents God has given him.

What a work prayer is! It is a work we do not take on alone. Christ was sent to dwell among us for this reason – to pray for
us and to pray with us. Christ is our success. If we refuse to work with Him, our prayer becomes restless, we seek distractions
from His loving and piercing gaze, and we avoid prayer for some other good work. This temptation to ignore prayer for good
works is the fallacy of activism. Activity becomes a replacement for prayer and may accomplish some good, but for others who
will profit from the work – for such an activist is not growing, but is spiritually undeveloped and therefore risks losing his soul.
St. Paul illustrates this danger: But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should
become a castaway (I Corinthians 9:27).

How many misguided souls made spiritual dwarves are caught up in busy-work and not the work of adoring God as He
wishes? Such a soul has no recollection and fails to purify his intentions in his activities, which become more and more for the
glory of the worker. By contrast, the true apostolate is genuine when the apostle is “pre-occupied” with, and steeped in, the life of
prayer.

St. Pius X, in Hærent Animo (his 1908 Encyclical on priestly holiness, §27) says: There are some who think, and even declare openly,
that the true measure of the merits of a priest is his dedication to the service of others; consequently, with an almost complete disregard for the cultivation of the virtues which lead to the personal sanctification of the priest (these they describe as passive virtues), they assert that all his energies and fervour should be directed to the development and practice of what they call the active virtues. One can only be astonished by this gravely erroneous and pernicious teaching.

The 1917 Code of Canon Law directs Bishops to ensure that their clergy adhere to a regimen that fosters holiness of life and
“success” in the ministry, beginning with frequenting the Sacrament of Penance, daily mental prayer, regular visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the
daily Holy Rosary and examination of conscience and the spiritual retreat.

State College, PA, May 15, 2013: CatechismClass.com is pleased to
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This book is intended to present a concise,
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Many of us Catholics may have a difficult time articulating the reason why our Lord ascended into Heaven? Why did He have to ascend in order to accomplish His divine mission of redemption? What exactly is the effect of His Ascension? The reason that we fail to understand the answer is one of the chief reasons why we neglect to adequately celebrate the Ascension and Ascensiontide.

Why Did Our Lord Ascend into Heaven?

The answer to this fundamental question is found in the Preface for the Ascension, a Preface found in the Traditional Roman Rite but abandoned in the Novus Ordo.

Preface for the Ascension (From Ascension Day until the Vigil of Pentecost, except on feasts which have a proper Preface.)

It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation that we should at all time and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God; through Christ or Lord. Who after His resurrection appeared and showed Himself to all His disciples; and while they beheld Him, was lifted up into heaven, so that He might make us partakers of His Godhead. And therefore with angles and archangels, with thrones and dominations, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing...

The answer to our question is underlined above - "so that He might make
us partakers of His Godhead." Our Lord ascended for us. He ascended so
that we might become divine.

Jesus ascended into heaven. His Divinity had never been absent; but, by Ascension, His Humanity was also enthroned there, and crowned with the brightest diadem of glory. This is another phase of the mystery we are now solemnizing. Besides a triumph, the Ascension gave to the sacred Humanity a place on the very throne of the eternal Word, to whom it was united in unity of Person. From this throne, it is to receive the adoration of men and of angels. At the name of Jesus, Son of Man, and Son of God—of Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty—“Every knee shall bend, in heaven, on earth and in hell.”

Reflection from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:

"In the Ascension the Savior did not lay aside the garment of flesh with
which He had been clothed; for His human nature would be the pattern of
the future glory of other human natures, which would become
incorporated to Him through a sharing of His life. Intrinsic and deep
was the relation between His Incarnation and His Ascension. The
Incarnation or the assuming of a human nature made it possible for Him
to suffer and redeem. The Ascension exalted into glory that same human
nature that was humbled to the death." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Life of
Christ)

Today the Holy Church celebrates the feastday of St. Robert Bellarmine (4 October 1542 – 17 September 1621), who was one of the most notable Catholics during the Catholic Counter Reformation. His saintly example and teachings helped preserve the Church against the heresies of the Protestants.

St. Robert Bellarmine was born the third of ten children of Vincenzo Bellarmine and Cinzia Cervini, a family of nobles, albeit poor ones. His mother, a niece of Pope Marcellus II, was dedicated to almsgiving, prayer, meditation, fasting, and mortification. It was these traits that Robert would be famous for one day. In this manner, may we see the importance of faith active in the family life.

Robert suffered assorted health problems all his life. Educated by Jesuits as a boy, he later joined the Jesuits on September 20, 1560, despite the opposition of his father who wanted Robert to enter politics. The young Robert studied at the Collegio Romano from 1560 to 1563, Jesuit centers in Florence, Italy in 1563, then in Mondovi, Piedmont, the University of Padua in 1567 and 1568, and the University of Louvain, Flanders in 1569.

He was ordained to the priesthood on Palm Sunday, 1570 in Ghent, Belgium. He served as a Professor of Theology at the University of Louvain from 1570 to 1576. At the request of Pope Gregory XIII, he taught polemical theology at the Collegio Romano from 1576 to 1587. While there he wrote Disputationes de Controversiis Christianae Fidei adversus hujus temporis hereticos, the most complete work of the day to defend Catholicism against Protestant attack.

He served as the Spiritual director of the Roman College from 1588, and he taught Jesuit students and other children while he wrote a children‘s catechism, Dottrina cristiana breve. Shortly thereafter he wrote a catechism for teachers, Dichiarazione piu copiosa della dottrina cristiana.

St. Robert was the confessor of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga until his death, and then St. Robert worked for the boy‘s canonization. In 1590 he worked in France to defend the interests of the Church during a period of turmoil and conflict. He served as a member of the commission for the 1592 revision of the Vulgate Bible as well as the rector of the Collegio Romano from 1592 to 1594. Thereafter, he was the Jesuit provincial in Naples, Italy from 1594 to 1597, followed by the role of Theologian to Pope Clement VIII from 1597 to 1599.

He is most well known for his role as examiner of bishops and consultor of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition in 1597; he was strongly concerned with discipline among the bishops. Created a Cardinal-priest on March 3, 1598, by Pope Clement VIII, he continued to live an austere life in Rome, giving most of his money to the poor. At one point he used the tapestries in his living quarters to clothe the poor, saying that “the walls won’t catch cold.”

He helped Saint Francis de Sales obtain formal approval of the Visitation Order. He was graced with the honor of being named Archbishop of Capua, Italy on March 18, 1602. He served in the two conclaves of 1605.

Concerning the controversy over Galileo, St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church, as well as Pope Urban VIII, welcomed Galileo’s research; they
even presented him with medals and gifts. They wholeheartedly welcomed
his hypothesis; however, when Galileo began to promote it as truth
without providing concrete evidence, trouble arose with the Catholic
Church. That matter is a separate issue. He wrote Tractatus de potestate Summi Pontificis in rebus temporalibus adversus Gulielmum Barclaeum in opposition to Gallicanism. He opposed action against Galileo Galilei in 1615, and established a friendly correspondence with him, but was forced to deliver the order for the scientist to submit to the Church.

He served as an elector in the conclave of 1621 and was considered for Pope. Instead, he would serve as the Theological Advisor to Pope Paul V as well as the Head of the Vatican library and the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Rites. He also bore the role of Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Index.

He died on September 17, 1621. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on September 17, 1931.

His remains, in a cardinal's red robes, are displayed behind glass under a side altar in the Church of Saint Ignatius, the chapel of the Roman College, next to the body of his student, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, as he himself had wished.

Collect:

O God, the source of all good, grant us Your inspiration that we may have proper thoughts, and Your guidance that we may carry them into practice. Through Our Lord . . .

As announced this morning to the members of the Joliet Latin Mass Community:

Effective August 5th, 2013, Bishop Conlon has appointed Fr Joseph R Valentine FSSP as Administrator of St Joseph Parish in Rockdale. This move will provide a much more stable "home" for the Traditional Latin Mass in the Joliet Diocese and, with God's help, allow us to solidify what we have accomplished and move forward in ways that were not possible before.
We are grateful to Bishop Conlon for this oppotrunity, and to the faithful of St Joseph's for allowing us to become a part of their community; May it be a fruitful relationship for all! St Joseph, pray for us!

What this will mean:

We will have a Sunday morning Mass time for the Latin Mass in the Joliet area.

We will have daily Latin Masses at St Joseph's (the daily Masses at Ss Peter & Paul, Naperville will be discontinued, at least for the time being).

The 5:30 PM Sunday Mass at Ss Peter & Paul will continue as before.

The Noon Sunday Mass at St Bernard's will be discontinued.

The neighboring parishes will provide priests to celebrate an English Novus Ordo Mass on Saturday Evening for the parishioners who desire it.

Beloved: Be prudent therefore and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring, As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any minister, let him do it, as of the power which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 46:9
God reigns over all the nations, God sits on His holy throne. Alleluia!
V. John 14:18. I will not leave you orphans; I go away, but I will come to you, and your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 15:26-27; 16:1-4

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me. And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning."These things have I spoken to you things have I spoken to you that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth a service to God. And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me. But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 46:6
God ascends His throne amid shouts of joy, the Lord is taken up with the sound of trumpets, alleluia!

SECRET
Cleanse us through this spotless offering, O Lord, and let our souls be made strong by Your heavenly grace. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 17:12-13, 15
Father, while I was with them, I kept them whom You gave Me, alleluia! but now I am coming to You; I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil, alleluia, alleluia!

POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, O Lord, that we may always be grateful for the Sacramental Gift that we have just received. Through Our Lord . . .

Rejoice Mary, Mother of God, Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee: blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb,
for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Meet it is in truth, to
glorify thee, O Birth-giver of God, ever blessed, and all undefiled, the
Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare
more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without stain didst bear God
the word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

O gracious Mother of the gracious God, O most pure and blessed Mary,
the Mother of God, pour the mercy of thy Son and our God upon my
impassionate soul, and with thine intercessions set me unto good
deeds, that I may pass the rest of my life without blemish and, with thine
aid, attain heaven. O Virgin mother of God, the only one who art pure and
blessed. O Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls: being
delivered from evil, as thy servants, O Mother of God, we offer unto thee
the hymns of thanks and victory; but as thou hast power invincible,
deliver us from all calamity, that we may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O
ever-Virgin Bride!

O virgin, spotless, undefiled, unstained, all-chaste
and Pure Lady, Bride of God, who by the glorious birth-giving hast united
God the Word with Man and linked our fallen nature with Heavenly Things;
who art the hope of the hopeless, the helper of the oppressed, the ready
protection of those who haste unto thee, and the refuge of Christians;
despise me not, who am defiled and sinful, who by my wicked thoughts,
words and deeds, have become an unworthy servant, and by my slothfulness
have turned into a slave to evil affections. O Mother of the God of Love,
have mercy and compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal. Accept this
prayer which is offered to thee from my impure lips; and putting forward
thy maternal influence with thy Son, my Lord and Master, beseech Him to
open unto me the lovingkindness of His grace; beseech Him to overlook my
countless transgressions, to give me true repentance and to make me to be
a zealous doer of His commandments. And thou, being gracious and
compassionate and tender-hearted, be thou ever present with me in this
life as my defender and helper, so that I may turn aside the assault of my
enemies, and guide me into salvation; help my poor soul at the hour of my
death, and drive far from it all the dark forms of the evil ones. And in
the dreadful Judgement Day, deliver me from everlasting punishment, and
present me as an inheritor of the ineffable glory of the son, our God.

O may I obtain this, most-holy Lady and Birth-giver of God, through
thine intercessions and mediations, by the grace and exceeding great love
of thine Only-Begotten son, my Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to
Whom is due, with the eternal Father and the All-Holy, Good and
Life-Giving Spirit, all honor and glory and worship, now and ever, and
unto ages of ages. Amen.

O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, accept our
prayers and present them to thy son and our God, that He may, for thy
sake, enlighten and save our souls.

While few universities bearing the name of their holy founders are still truly Catholic, many of them still house great treasures of the Church. Last week I traveled to DePaul located in Chicago, IL, and toured their library. Inside, I found a beautiful vestment and several stained glass windows that each were individually praiseworthy for their beauty.

The following is a selection of the treasures present at the DePaul Library.

A cope is a priestly vestment. Woven by hand with gold and silk brocade on silk in Lyon, France in 1925, this cope was purchased for the 50th Anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul parish. It was worn by a priest who represented the Vincentian order at the 1926 Eucharistic Congress in Chicago. According to the importer's description: "The Vestments derive their name from the fact that throughout the suit angelic forms appear, adoring God and chanting His praise."

In
this image you can see a close-up on the upper most part of the Cope.
The intricate design beautifully depicts the Coronation of our Blessed
Lady by the Trinity.

In this close up, you may see the great detail that went into this beautiful, sacred vestment.

Located in the Library, this depiction of the Miraculous Medal is just one of the many beautiful stained glass windows still preserved on campus. This particular stained glass image is located directly above the location of the cope pictured above.

Novena to the Holy GhostPray especially starting on the day after Ascension Thursday, ending on
the Pentecost

First Day:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and
the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe
to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom
and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge
and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Second Day:
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may
set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things
that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of
Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity
of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Third Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such
a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for
His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fourth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in times of trouble and
adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give
me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome
and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fifth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will
of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize
their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking
ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Sixth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know
and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see
the eternal light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have a clear
vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Seventh Day:
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always
do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from
all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments
to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Eighth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly
things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them
above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of the earth. Help me
to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Ninth Day:
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity,
joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance,
that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful
submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with Thee
in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

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